Agur treasured the revelation that God had given. "Tested" means "smelted," purified (cf. Psalms 12:6). It was trustworthy. Agur correctly regarded the aim of revelation to be the promotion of trust in God, not just knowledge (Proverbs 30:5 b). Agur warned against adding to God’s revelation because that is a serious offense (Proverbs 30:6; cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18). read more
Agur asked God not to lead him into temptation (Matthew 6:13). He had more concern for his purity before God than about his place among people. Poverty and wealth both bring with them certain temptations that the middle-class citizen does not face, at least as strongly. Abundance tempts us to feel unrealistically self-sufficient (cf. Deuteronomy 8:11-14; John 15:5). Need tempts us to stop trusting God and to resort to acts that harm others."Agur’s exemplary prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9, the only... read more
It is unwise to meddle in the domestic affairs of other people. The case in point in this couplet is falsely accusing a slave to his master. Probably "he" (Proverbs 30:10 b) refers to the master. The slave might never discover that someone had slandered him, but it is more likely that the master would investigate the charge and discover it false. read more
C. Wisdom about life 30:10-33Though his view of and awareness of God are very much behind what Agur said in the rest of this chapter, his counsel deals primarily with practical prudence from this point on. read more
Agur sketched four verbal pictures and simply placed them side by side in these verses to illustrate the folly of arrogance. He had demonstrated humility himself (Proverbs 30:2-4; Proverbs 30:7-9). Each thing listed begins with dor ("generation") meaning a class or group of people (cf. Matthew 11:16). [Note: Ross, p. 1121.] The numerical sequence creates a cumulative effect, namely, a feeling of growing intensity. [Note: J. J. Glück, "Proverbs xxx 15a," Vetus Testamentum 14 (1964):368.] read more
Here the warning is against greediness."’Give! Give!’ [Proverbs 30:15] can be taken as the names-with more pointed wit than as the cries-of these identical twins, who are made of the same stuff as their mother-other people’s blood." [Note: Kidner, p. 180. F. S. North, "The Four Insatiables," Vetus Testamentum 15 (1965):281-82, argued that the two daughters are the two suckers on the leach.] Greediness is not just silly (Proverbs 30:15), it is dangerous ("Sheol" and "fire," Proverbs 30:16) and... read more
Disrespect for one’s parents is as bad as arrogance and greed. Agur’s graphic descriptions visualize the terrible consequences of this folly. Whereas we should obey our parents as long as we live under their authority, we should honor them all our lives. We should do so simply because they have given us physical life, if for no other reason. This proverb warns that severe punishment awaits those who disrespect their parents. read more
These four "ways" (Heb. derek) have several things in common that make each of them remarkable. All are mysterious (inexplicable), non-traceable, effective in their element, and aggressive. "The way of a man with a maid" refers to the process by which a woman comes to love a man. The point of these four snapshots seems to be, that in view of remarkable phenomena such as these, arrogance is absurd and humility only reasonable (cf. Job 38-41). read more
The mention of the woman in Proverbs 30:19 seems to have triggered this pigtail comment about another unexplainable phenomenon. That is, how some women can commit adultery as easily as, and without any more remorse than, they can eat a meal. The sage could have said the same of some men. read more
Get a Bible verse delivered to your inbox every day!
Read on Mobile
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Proverbs 30:2-9
B. Wisdom about God 30:2-9Agur began with three declarations. The subject of each is God. read more